Winding reel for metal strips



May 24, 1932. w. c. FORK WINDING REEL FOR METAL STRIPS Filed Jan. 4. 1929 7 Sheets-Sheet 1 liuzv-Tfims cJ ow/e May 24, 1932. FORK 1,859,294

WINDING REEL FOR METAL STRIPS Filed Jan. 4, 1929 '7 Sheets-Sheet 2 F i Q F 43 1% M. W 1 32 g9 156 158 =J55 J08 J06 Jifilg I 24 "I J03 9 5 72 971 95g I a) 22 (1311 53 n 1H1 l I I E 1 65 55 I w 67 6606 7 Ta t 59 E 1 16 54 i i A 68 1 L 6001 E 67757 Wm 0.4 0706 Jay v 51 May 24, 1932. w. c. FORK WINDING REEL FOR METAL STRIPS 7 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Jan. 4. 1929 NNI May 24, 1932. w. c. FORK I WI NDING REEL FOR METAL STRIPS Filed Jan. 4, 1929 7 She egs-Sheet 4 May 24; 1932.

W. C. FORK WINDING REEL FOR METAL STRIPS Filed Jan. 4, 1929 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 May 24, 1932.

w. c. FORK 1,859,294 WINDING REEL FOR MET AL STRIPS Filed Jan. 4, 1929 7 Sheets-Sheet s May 24, 1932. w. c. FORK 1,859,294

WINDING REEL FOR METAL STRIPS Filed Jan.

1929 7 Sheets-Sheet 7 Q I to --.N HQ

r Y- Exam/{Z27 is to provide an improved windin Patented May 24, 1932 1 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE .WII-LIAM C. FORK, OF HOMEWOOD, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOB TO ACME STEEL COMPANY, 01 CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION 013- ILLINOIS wnmme mm. For, METAL s'rms Application filed January 4, 1929. Serial m. $30,210.

This invention relates to improvements in winding reels adapted for use in steel mills and the like for winding elongate metal strips into the form of spiral coils. e principal object of the invention is to provide a winding reel adapted to grip automatically the forward end of an advancing strip of hot v metal and wind it into the form of a spiral coil without retarding the progress of the strip. A further object is to provide a winding reel comprising improved means for automatically engaging the end of the metal strip which is preferably wound while in a hot condition. A further object of the invention is reel embodying means for ejecting the coil of metal from the reel after it has been wound. Still another object is to provide improved means for guiding and controlling the movement of the metal strip asit is fed onto the winding reel. A further object is to provide an improved arrangement of fluid operated means for eiiectin and controlling the operation of the winding reel and associated mecha- 26 nism. Other objects relate to various fea tures of construction and, arrangement which will appear more fully hereinafter.

'The nature and objects of the invention will be understood from the following speci- 2.) fication taken with the accompanying drawings in which one embodiment is illustrated.

In the drawings, Figure 1 shows a top plan view of a winding reel embodying the features of the present invention;

Fig. 2 shows a side elevation of the apparatus illustrated in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 shows an enlarged top plan view of the winding reel proper and associated driving and guiding mechanism;

' 4 shows a transversesection taken on 1 the line 44 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a longitudinal section through the winding reel, similar to the view shown in Fi 4, but illustrating the ejecting plate or dis lr in its outer position;

Fig. 6 is a longitudinal vertical section taken on the line 6-6 of Fig. 5 showing the engagement of the metal strip with the teeth of the winding reel; 4 b0 Fig. 7 is a side elevation of the movable trolling the operation of certain fingers by roller for guiding the strip to the winding reel, showing an associated fluid operated valve in section;

Fig. 8 is an enlarged section taken on the line 88 of Fig. 3, showing a side elevation of the parts leading to the winding reel;

Fig. 9 shows an enlarged side elevation and sectional view taken on the line 99 of Fig. 3, illustrating in section a valve for conwhich the progress of the metal strip to the winding reel is controlled;

Fig. 10 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 1010 of Fig. 6;

Fi 11 shows a sectional view taken on the line 11-11 of Fig. 6 in the plane of the advancing sheet of metal; and

Fig. 12 is a somewhat diagrammatic plan and sectional view of the principal parts of the apparatus showing the connections of the fluid operated means by which the guiding of the metal to the reel, the ejection of the metal coil from the reel and the stopping of the coil after it is ejected, are controlled.

In the operation of strip mills in the steel industry, the hot metal slabs are taken from the furnace and are passed endwise through sets of roughing rolls and finishing rolls withv the result that an elongated hot metal strip is produced which is fed endwise at relatively high speed by the action of the rolls and, in some cases, by the action of feeding rolls which may be employed in conunction therewith. These elongated meta strips may vary in width and thickness according to the requirements to be met by the product of a particular series of operations and, for convenience in subsequent handling, it is desirable that these elongated strips be coiled in spiral fashion while they are still hot. Since the hot metal strips emerge'from the finishing rolls of the mill at a relatively high speed and follow each other inrelatively quick succession, it is important that these strips be wound quickly without any retarda tion of the progress of the metal and without danger of failure or accident in the winding of any particular metal strip, since that would arrest the continuous .operation of the strip mill as well as of the winding arr-' paratus.

The present invention provides means whereby successive elongated strips of metal -are automatically engaged, and wound in spiral form as they are received from the finishing rolls of the strip mill.

' As illustrated in the accompanying d1-aw-- ings, the winding machine comprises a cylindrical reel 15 made up of a plurality of teeth 16 having the form shown particularly in Fig. 6, the teeth being arranged at an angle to the axis of the reel and each tooth comprising a forwardly directed flat face 16, a rear inwardly divergent face .16", and an inner face 16 extending inwardly from the inner boundary of the face 16". There are thus formed between adjacent teeth 16 a plurality of openings 17 so that as the reel rotates in thedirection indicated by the arrow 18, one of the openings is adapted to receive the forward advancing end of the hot metal strip 20. This end of the strip is doubled upon itself as shown at 21 by the action of the rotating reel that the hot metal strip which first engages the reel in the osition shown by dotted lines in Fig. 6, sn sequently passes around the circular row of teeth 16 and is thereafter wound upon itself in spiral con-- volutions until the entire strip is wound in spiral form. When the metal strip 20 has been completely wound on the reel 15, it is automatically ejected therefrom by means of an ejecting plate or disk 22 of circular form which is provided with a plurality of openings 23 adapted to permit the teeth 16 of the winding reel to pass therethrough, .as

shown in Figs. 4 and 6. The reel 15 is so constructed that the teeth 16 project laterally from a circular head 24 through the openings 23 in the ejecting disk 22 and when it is desired to eject a spiral coil from the reel, the disk 22 is moved endwise from the position shown in Fig. 4 to the position shown in Fig. 5, thereby sliding the spiral coil off of the teeth of the reel. 24 of the reel is mounted on a hollow shaft 25 which is mounted to rotate in the bushing 26 secured in the bearing 27 formed on the base 28. A gear 29 is-secured on the shaft 25 on the side of the bearing 27 of the reel and this gear meshes with a driving pinion 30 secured on the shaft 32 of an electric motor 33, as illustrated in Fig. 1. The circuit of the electric motor is adapted to beregulated from The hub of the head which is secured to the end of the shaft 35 by a transverse in 38. The coupling member 37 is engage by a piston rod 39 having an enlarged head 39* located within the cou pling member adjacent to the end of the shaft 35 so that the reciprocating movements of the piston rod 39 are imparted to the shaft or piston rod 35 without any lost motion within the coupling. The piston rod 39 extends into a cylinder 40 and has a piston 41 secured to the end thereof, a stufling box 42 being located around the piston rod 39 in the end wall of the cylinder. The pipes 43 and 44 lead into opposite ends of the cylinder 40 from a source of compressed air or other fluid pressure supply and, upon admitting the compressed air to the cylinder 40 at the desired end thereof, according to the method hereinafter explained, the piston 41 may be caused to move in the proper direction to effect the desired movement of the ejecting disk 22. As shown in Fig. 4, the cylinder 40 is secured to the side of the base 28 which carries the bearing 27 for the shaft 25.

The elongated metal strip 20 is fed to the winding reel 15 over a feed table 45 comprising the supporting plates 46 and 47 which are mounted on longitudinal frame members 48. This feed table 45 normally has an inclined position as shown in Fig. 2 and the lower end thereof is provided with a bracket 49 mounted to swing about a pivot 50 carried by the brackets 51 which are mounted on the upper sides of the longitudinal frame members 52. The upper surface of the supporting plates 46 preferably is serrated as shown at 46 in order to give added strength to the member and to allow for unusual expansion due to its direct engagement with the 'elongated metal strips which move over the surface preferably at a red heat. The elongated metal'strips are fed in succession to the feed table 45 from the feed rolls or the like of the finishing mill, not illustrated. and they move upwardly over the table 45 between a guide plate 53 and a guide plate 54 which, when a metal strip of relatively narrow width is being wound, converge upwardly and forwardly as shown in Fig. 1. The upper portion 47 of the feed table 45 has aaplane upper surface upon which are mounted guide blocks 55 mounted for lateral adjustment on the plate 47 by means of pins 56 having heads 56 which are adapted to slide in the undercut guideway 57 formed in the table. These guide blocks 55 are connected by a screw threaded adjusting member 58 which threadedly engages a boss 59 formed on one guide member and has an interlocking rotative connection with a similar boss 60 formed on the other guide member. By the rotation of this member 58, the guide blocks 55 at the forward side of the machine may be adjusted with respect to the other guide blocks for the purpose of varying their spaced relation and also for the purpose of varying the spaced relation of the guide plate 54 with respect to the guide plate 53. The guide plate 53 has its inner guiding face in ali cut with the stationary guide block 55 an the guide plate 54 has its upper end pivotally connected to the movable guide block 55 as shown at 61 so that the operation of the adjusting member 58 serves also to vary the position of the upper end of the guide plate 54. The lower end of the guide plate 54 is attached to the table 45 by means of a stud 62 which passes through a slot 63 in the flange of the guide plate 54 into a threaded aperture in the table. As the elongated metal strip 20 is fed upwardly over the inclined table 45, the forward end thereof is directed downwardly, near the upper end of the table, by means of an inclined plate 65 which is provided at its lower end with a pair of'integral hooks 66 adapted to engage the adjusting member 58. The forward and upper end of the deflecting plate 65 is supported by another pair of inte-' gral hooks 67 which extend over a bar 68 adapted to rest loosely on the upper edges of the guide plates 53 and 54. The plate 65 thus converges rearwardly toward the inclined feed table 45 and deflects the end of the moving strip 20 downwardly so that it passes beneath a guide roller 70 mounted on a shaft 71 which-has bearings 72 carried at the side of the portion 47 of the table. After passing beneath the roller 70. the strip 20 moves along as indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 6 and engages between two of the teeth 16 which are formed on the winding reel 15. In order to effect this interlocking engagement satisfactorily, the strip 20 should preferably engage the teeth 16 some distance below the plane passing through the horizontal axis of the reel. Thevextent of this downward displacement may vary with the number of teeth in the reel and the thickness of the metal strip being wound and in order that the elevation of the table 45 may be varied to suit the prevailing conditions. the upper end of the table is provided with brackets 73 having sleeves 74 suspended therefrom and internally threaded to be en-- gaged by the adjusting screws 75. As shown particularly in Fig. 10, these adjusting screws are oppositely threaded with the lower threaded portions engaging the internally threadedsocket members 76 which are pivoted at 77 on the frame members 52. A

. hand wheel 78 is secured on one of these adjusting screws and the two screws are con nected by a sprocket chain 79 mounted on the sprocket wheels 7 9 so that upon rotation of the wheel 78'. both of the adjusting screws are simultaneously rotated to efiect a uniform elevation or depression of the upper end of the table 45. The strip 20 may thus be caused to engage the teeth of the winding reel at the desired angle and at the desired disreel having an external diameter of 18 inches,

for example, and 30 teeth distributed uniformly around its periphery, it has been found that the end of the metal strip is engaged and gripped satisfactorily if the table 45 be so disposed as to cause the strip to engage the reel at a distance of about 4 inches rom its horizontal plane passing through the axis of the reel. The faces 16 of the teeth should preferably have an inclination such that they are tangential to a circle having a diameter equal to approximately 45 per cent. of the outer diameter of the reel and the faces 16 should be tangential to a circle having a diameter approximately 80 per cent; of the outer diameter of the reel, in order to obtain the best results.

As the metal strip 20 moves from the upper end of the table 45 to the reel 15, it is supported and guided on its under side by means of a guide member 80 having a plurality of guide member 80 occupies the position shown in Fig. 8 wherein the upper surfaces of the guide fin ers 80 lie flush with the upper surfaceo the portion 47 of the feed table. The guide member 80 is adapted to be held in the position shown in Fig. 8'through a crank arm 85 which is fixed on the shaft 83 and which is connected through a link 86 with an arm 87 secured to the end ofa piston rod 88. This piston rod has its opposite end secured to a piston 89 which is mounted to travel in a compressed air cylinder 90 secured to the under side of one of the frame members 48, as shown in Fig. 6. A pipe 91 leads into this cylinder at the end thereof opposite that through which the piston rod 88 emerges, and when compressed air or other compressed fluid is admitted through this pipe 91, the piston 89 is forced toward the left, as viewed in Fig.6, thereby compressing the coil spring 92 and moving the crank arm 85 into the position shown in Fig. 6, wherein the guide fingers 8'0 are depressed into the spaces between the guide flanges 81. When the fluid pressure within the cylinder 90 is released, the spring 92 forces the piston 89 toward the right, as viewed in Fig. 6, thereby time that the metal strip 20 is passing into its 3 initial engagement with the teeth 16 of the winding reel and they are then depressed by the admission of compressed fluid to the cylinder 90, as hereinafter explained, to remain 5 in that depressed position until after the wound coil has been ejected from the winding reel by the movement of the ejecting disk 22 to the position shown in Fig. 5.

As soon as the forward end of the moving strip 20 is interlocked with the teeth of the rotating reel 15, it is carried around in the direction indicated by the arrow 18 in Fig. 6 and the portion of the oncoming strip of metal in proximity to the reel then assumes the inclined position shown at 20 in Fig. 6 with the upper surface of the lower portion of this inclined section of the strip contacting with the lower peripheral surface of the guide roller 70 while the intermediate portion of v 20 the inclined part 20 is engaged by the floatiiig' 'g'ui de' roller 95 mounted on a shaft 96 which is journaled in the roller frame 97.

The floating guide roller 95 normally occupies the lower position shown in Fig. 8, before the metal strip 20 reaches the reel 15, butthe passing of the metal strip around the reel elevates the roller 95 to the position shown in Fig. 6 as permitted by the movement of the roller frame 97 with the shaft 71 on which the roller 70 is mounted, the frame 97 having arms 97 which are fixed on the shaft 71 between the roller 70 and the bearings 72. The innermost end of the shaft 71 has an arm 98 secured thereon and this arm carries an adjustably mounted counterweight 99 adapted to counterbalance the weight of the roller frame 97 and parts carried thereby so that the guide roller 95 will not unduly depress the hot metal strip 20 as it passes through the inclined pathway indicated-at 20. The inner end of the shaft 96 extends beyond its bearing in the frame 97 and has an auxiliary uide roller 95 mounted thereon so that t is guide roller may be brought into 'close proximity tothe ejecting disk. 22 when the machine isbeing used for winding relatively narrow strips which would pass to the winding reel adjacentto the disk 22 when that disk is in its retracted position.

When the roller frame 97 and the roller 95 are in the lowermost position shown in Fig. 8, or in the intermediate position shown 1n Fig. 6, for example, these parts would interfere with the action of the disk-22 in ejecting a wound roll or coil from the winding reel 15 and means are therefore provided for moving the frame 97 and roller 95 to the position shown by dotted lines at 100 in Fig. 8. For this purpose, the shaft 71 on which the arms 97 of the frame97 are secured, is provided at its inner end with a relatively fixed hub member 101 within which is mounted a crank arm 102 adapted to pivot about 55 the shaft 71 and to engage the flange 101" of the hub member 101 when the latter is in the'position-shown in Fi 8. The lower end of the crank arm 102 IS pivotally-connected with a link 103 which has its op 0- site ends pivotally attached at 104 to the orward end of a piston rod 105. This connection is established through a head 106 on the piston rod which is adapted to travel on a guide flange 107. The piston rod extendsthrough the end wall of a cylinder 108 and is secured to the piston 109 adapted to travel therein. The iston 109 is normally forced toward the rig it, as viewed in Fig. 8, by a coil spring 110 and it is moved in the opposite direction by the action of compressed fluid which is admitted through a pipe 111. When compressed fluid is admitted throu h the pipe 111, as hereinafter described, t e crank arm 102 forces the frame 97 upwardly to the position shown by dotted lines at 100,

through the engagement of the arm 102 with the hub member 101, thereby permitting the ejecting disk 22 to be actuated to remove a wound coil of metal from the winding reel 15. When the piston 109 is in the normal position shown in'Fig. 8, it holds the crank arm 102 in the lower position, thus permitting the frame 97 to drop to the lowermost position shown in Fig. 8 or to be elevated by the action of the moving strip of metal as shown in Fi 6.

The roll of metal which is ejected from the winding reel 15 by the action of the disk 22 drops onto. the discharge table 82 which occupies the inclined position shown in Figure 2, being supported at its upper end by a transverse I-beam resting on the longitudinal frame member 52. The lower end of the discharge table 82 is supported by the transverse block 116. The wound roll of metal rolls by gravity down this inclined table 82 between parallel upwardly extending guide plates 117, 117 and 118 which have their lower edges secured to the, upper surface of the table.

At the lower end of the table 82, the progress 1 of the roll is adapted to be arrested by a movable table section 120 which is adapted to be moved upwardly to form a gate for arresting the progress of the roll. The section 120 is ivotally mounted on a shaft 121 having arings in brackets 122 which arefixed on the frame member 52 and it normally occupies aninclined position wherein its upper surface forms a'continuation of the upper surface of the table 82 and also of the lower inclined table 123 carried by the frame member 52. The shaft 121 has a crank arm 124 fixed thereon and this arm is pivotally connected through a link 125 with a piston rod 126 arranged to extend into a-fiuid pressure cylinmaintained in its lower position wherein it forms a continuation of the table 82; but when compressed air or other fluid is admitted to the cylinder 127 through a ipe 130, the piston 128- is forced toward t e right as viewed in Figs. 2 and 12, thereby moving the table section 120 into its upper inclined position so that it stops the progress ofthe roll of metal and holds it in the position indicated at 131 in Fig. 2, thereby permitting an operator to passa section of wire through the roll of metal strip and fasten this wire around the free end of the metal strip to prevent the unwindin thereof, during its further handlin A ter the free end of the wound strip has been bound with. apiece of wire in this manner, the'operator releases the compressed fluid from the cylinder 127, thereby permitting thetable section 120 to return to its lower inclined position b the action of the coil spring 129, so that t e roll 131 is then permitted to continue by gravity over the table section 120 and downwardly over the table 123 where it passes between the upwardly extending guide plates 132. The guide plates 117 118 and 132 have extensions which project over the lateral edges of the table section 120, as shown at 133, thus guiding the roll 131 as it passes over the section 120. The wound rolls of metal are commonly passed from the lower end of the table 123 onto a suitable carriage or rack in which a number of rolls or strips may be collected preliminary to be engaged by a large hook for movement therefrom by the action of a crane or other transfer mechanism.

The connections of the fluid pressure system for controlling the operation of the winding machine are shown somewhat diagrammatically in Fig. 12 and the o eration of these parts may best be understoo in connection with a summary of the o' eration of the entire apparatus. Assuming t at the machine is being employed for winding an elongated strip of hot metal proceeding from a strip mill and fed to the winding machine by the action of the rolls on the metal, this hot metal strip travels up the inclined feed table 45, the elevation of which has been regulated by the adjustment of the screws in order to 7 cause the strip 20 to engage the winding reel '15 at the desired distance below the axis of the reel. As the strip passes over the table 45, it is guided on its lateral side by the ide lates 53 and v54 which have been regu ated in their spaced relation, through the operation of a screw 58, to suit the width of the 4 metal strip being wound, and the strip then passes between the guide roller 70 and beneath the floating guide roller 95, or 95* where it is su ported on its under side by the movable gui e fingers These guide finrs 80, carried by the member 80 are normall held in a position where they form a continuation of the upper portion 47 of the guide table by the action of the coil ring 92 in the cylinder 90, shown particular in Fig. 6, whereby the piston 89 is force toward the right so that the link 86 pushes the crank arm in a counter-clockwise direction to elevate the member 80. As soon as the strip 20 .interlocks with the teeth of the windtilting of the roller carrying frame 97 which is fixed on the shaft 71, the rotation of this shaft by the upward tilting of the frame 97 serving to operate certain devices illustrated.

particularly in Fig. 12. The compressed fluid is received from a source of supply through a pipe 140 which has a branch pipe 140 leading into a four-way valve 141 from which air may be exhausted through the port 142. The supply pipe 140 for compressed air or the like has a branch pipe 143 which leads into the casing of a valve 144 having a valve member 144 which is normally retained on its seat by a coil spring 144". From the upper chamber of this valve, a pi e 145 connects with the previously descri ed pipe 91 which leads into the head end of the c linder 90. An exhaust pipe 146 leads from t e-pipe 91 through an exhaust valve 147 having a valve member 147 which is normally retained on its seat by a coil spring 147 The valve member 147 has a stem 147 through which it may be depressed to open the valve tion of a valve operating arm 148 which is secured on the shaft 71 thereby permitting air to escape from the cylinder and preventing the piston 89from moving toward the left, as viewed in Fi s. 6 and 12,by the action of com ressed uid. However, as soon as the sha t 71 is turned by-the upward movement of the roller carrying frame 97, due to the lifting of the rollers or 95 by the metal strip 20, the valve operating arm.

148 is turned upwardly from the position shown in Fig. 12, thereby permitting the valve 147 to close. At the same time, the valve stem 144 of the valve 144 is depressed by the action of a valve operating lever 149 which is ivoted at 150 on a bracket 151, as shown in ig. 8. The valve operating lever 149 is actuated by a cam 152 which is secured on the shaft 71 so that as the shaft is turned by the elevation of the roller.car-' open the valve 144 and permit compressed air to pass from the pipe 143 through pipe 145 to the cylinder 90, thereby moving the piston 89 toward the left, as viewed in Fig. 12, to depress the guide fingers 80 The guide member 80 and the guide roller 95 then retain the position shown in Fig. 6 during the valve 147 through the action of the arm the cylinder 90, since the valve 14 148 and therebyv permit the fingers 80 to be elevated by the action of the coil spring 92 in would then be allowed to close under the ction of r the coil spring 144", but this action does not take place, or if it does occur, it is immediately reversed by the action of the attendant, who, upon observing that the winding of the elongated metal strip has been completed, actuates the four-way valve 141 to cause compressed air or other fluid to pass through a pipe 154 to a branch pipe 155 and thence through a pipe 156 in the direction indicated by the arrow 157, it being permitted to flow in that direction only through the'pipe 156 by the action of a check valve 158. From the pipe v156 the air is admitted through the previously-described pipe 111 into the cylinder 108 thereby causing the piston 109 to inove toward the right, as viewed in Fig. 12 with the result that the crank arm 102 is operated to turn the member 101 and thereby elevate the roller frame 97 and the rollers and 95 to positions wherein they do not interfere with the action of the disk 22 in ejecting wound coils from the reel 15. When the piston 109 reaches the limit of its movement corresponding to the position of the roller frame 97 indicated by dotted lines at in Fig. 8, the ejecting disk 22 is actuated from the cylinder 40 through the operation of an arm 159 which is carried by the head 106 previously describedas being carried at the end of the piston rod 105. This arm 159 actuates the valve stem 160* connected to a valve member 160 located in 'a valve casing 160. The valve member 160 is normally closed byla coil spring 160 but when the plunger 160 is engaged by the member 159, the valve is opened to permit compressed air to pass from the pipe 156 through the valve casing and thence through a pipe 161 which communicates with the pipe 43 leading to the cylinder 40 so that the piston 41 is then forced toward the left as viewed in F i 4 to cause the disk 22 to eject the wound coil from the reel 15. During this operation the air in the cylinder 40 on the forward side of the piston 41 is permitted to exhaust through the pipe 44 which leads to the four-way valve 141- and which has the exhaust port 142. When the wound coil has been ejected from the reel 15, the four-way valve 141 is turned to cause compressed air to flow through the pipe 44 to the cylinder 40,

thereby moving the piston 41 toward the right as viewed in Fig. 4 to retract the eject ing disk 22. During this reverse operation of the piston 41, the air is exhausted from the rear end of the cylinder 40 through the pipe 43 and thence through the pipe 154, it eing permitted to flow in that direction as indicated 'by the arrow 163 because of the provision of a check valve 164 in the pipe 154 to allow compressed fluid to flow in that direction only. WVhen the disk 22 has been thus withdrawn, the operator actuates a foot release valve 165 which" is located adjacent the four-way valve 141 in an exhaust pipe 166 which leads from the pipe 111 connected to the cylinder 108. Upon opening the valve 165 to permit the air in the cylinder 108 to escape to the atmosphere, the piston 109 is forced toward the left, as viewed in Fig. 12, by the action of the coil spring 110, thereby a lowing the roller 95 to return to the position shown in'Fig. 8.-

The supply pipe 140 through which the compressed air or the like is received at the machine, has an extension 140 which is connected with 'a' valve casing 170 in which is mounted a valve member 171 normally retained on its seat by a coil spring 172. This valve member is adapted to be opened against the compression of the spring 172 by a manually operated lever 173. A pipe 174 leads from the casing 170 to the cylinder 127, previously described, containing the piston 128 by which the operation of the table section is controlled. Since the valve member 171 is normally retained on its seat by the coil spring 172, air is normally allowed to pass from the pipe 140 through the pipe to the cylinder 127 thereby forcing the piston 128 toward the right as viewed in Fig. 12 to elevate the table section 120. When a wound coil has been ejected from the reel 15 and allowed to 'roll down against the table section 120, the operator presses on the lever 173 to allow the air to escape from the valve chamber 170 and from the cylinder 127, the lowest portion 171 of the valve member then engaging its seat to prevent further flow from the pipe The coil spring 129 then moves the piston 128 toward the left as viewed in Fig. 12 to depress the table section 120 and allow the wound coil of metal to continue to roll by gravity over the discharge table 123. In this way, successive wound coils ofmetalstrip are momentarily arrested by the member 120 to permit wires to be tied around the outer ends of the wound strip, and then these wound coils are they are stored or by which they are handled.

Although one form of the invention has been shown and described by way of illus-,

tration, it will be understood that it may be constructed in various other embodiments within the scope of the appended'claims.

I claim:

1. The combination in a winding machine for a moving metal strip, ofa reel comprising a plurality of teeth adapted to engage the forward end of said strip, the rear face of each tooth extended intersecting the front face of the next succeeding tooth intermediate its end edges to define a guiding mouth for receiving the advancing edge of said strip, means for-revolving said reel, and a plate of larger diameter than said reel having apertures fitted by said teeth and movable along said teeth for ejecting the wound coil from said reel.

2. The combination in a winding machine for a moving metal strip, of a reel comprising a plurality of relatively stationary teeth 55 adapted to en age the forward end of said strip, the rear aceof each tooth extended intersecting the front face of the next succeeding tooth intermediate its end edges to define a guiding mouth for receiving the advancing edge of said strip, said metal strip moving toward said reel in a plane displaced from-the axis of said reel, and means for rotating said reel.

3. The combination in a winding machine for a moving metal strip, of a rotatable reel comprising a plurality of relatively fixed teeth adapted to engage the forward end of said strip, each of said teeth comprising a flat front face-and a pair of complementary rear faces converging therefrom, and means for rotating said reel.

4. The combination in a windin machine for a'moving metal strip, of a ree comprising a disk having a plurality of teeth pro- "ecting laterally therefrom, each of said teeth aving its front face inclined to the radii of said. disk and a rear face adapted when extended inwardly to intersect the front face of the next following tooth between the front .0 and rear edges thereof, said teeth being rel'a tively fixed on said disk, and means for rotating said disk. ,5. The combination in a winding machine for metal strips, of a rotatable reel having means for engagin the forward end of a metal strip, a feed ta 1e over which the metal 'strip'passes to said real, a movable guide member adapted to form a continuation of .,5aid feed table, an ejecting disk-of larger di ameter than said reel adapted to move longitudinally of the axis of said reel for ejecting a finmd coil of metal therefrom, and means for actuating said movable guide member to move it out of the path of said ejecting 35 i 6. .The combination ina winding machine for metal strips, of a rotatable reel having a plurality of teeth adapted to engage the forward end of a movin strip of metal, a feed table over which said metal strip moves, a movable guide member adapted normally to form a continuation of said feed table adj acent said reel, a movable guide roll-er adapted to engage the upper-side of said metal strip adjacent said reel and to be moved upwar ly by said strip after engagement of said strip with said reel, and means for rotating wardly-by said strip after engagement of said strip with said reel, and means actuated by the upward movement of said guide roller for causin a movement of said movable guide mem r out of guiding position.

8. The combination in a winding machine for metal strips, of a rotatable reel having a plurality of teeth adapted to engage the forward end of a movin stri of metal, a feed table over which sai meta strip moves, a movable guide member adapted normally jacent said reel, a movable guide roller adapted to engage the upper side of said metal strip adjacent said reel and to be moved upwardly by said strip after engagement of said strip with said reel, an ejecting member of larger diameter than said reel for effecting movement of a wound coil of metal there-' from, means for moving said ejecting member longitudinally of said reel, and means for moving said guide roller and said movable guide member out of the path of said ejecting member.

9. The combination in a windin machine for metal strips, of a rotatable ree having a plurality. of teeth adapted to engage the forward end of a movin strip of metal, a feed table over which said metal strip moves, a movable guide member adapted normally to form a continuation of said feed table adjacent said reel, a movable guide roller adapted to engage theupper side of said. metal strip adjacent saidreel and to be moved upwardly by-said strip after engagement of-said strip with said reel, an ejecting member of larger cfiameter than said real for effecting move bf a wound coil of :metal therefrom, nieans for moving said ejecting member lon- -to form a continuation of said feed table ad-' gitudinall ofjsaid reel, and fluid-operated vmeans un er the control. of the operator for efiecting upward movement of said guide roller out of the path of said ejecting memher, and means actuated by the upward move ment of said guide roller for effecting movement of said movable guide member out of the path of said ejecting member.

10. The combination in a winding machine for metal strips, of a reel having a plurality of teeth adapted to engage the forward end of a moving strip of metal, means for rotatingsaid reel, a feed table over which said metal strip moves to said reel, a guiding frame pivotally mounted adjacent said reel, a roller mounted on said frame for engagement with the upper side of said metal strip adjacent said reel and manually controlled means for effecting movement of said. guiding frame to effect corresponding movement of said roller away from said strip.

11. The combination in a winding machine for metal strips, of a reel having a plurality of teeth adapted to engage the forward end of a moving strip of metal, means for rotating said reel, a feed table over which said metal strip moves to said reel, a guiding frame pivotally mounted adjacent said reel, a roller mounted on said frame for engagement with the upper side of said metal strip adjacent said reel andmanually controlled means for effecting movement of said guiding frame to effect corresponding movement of said roller away from saidstrip, and a second guide roller mounted on a stationary axis adjacent said movable guiding frame.

12. The combination in a winding machine for metal strips, of a rotatable reel having a pluralityof teeth adapted to engage the forward end of a moving strip of metal, means for rotating said reel, a feed table over which said metal strip moves toward said reel, a movable guide member adapted normally to form a continuation of said feed table adjacent said reel, a movable guide roller adapted to engage the upper side of saidmetal strip adjacent said reel, means for moving said movable guide member out of guiding position, and means actuated by the movement of said roller for controlling said lastnamed means.

13. The combination in a winding machine for metal strips, of a rotatable reel having means for engaging the forward end of ametal strip, a feed table over which the metal strip passes to. said reel, a movable guide member adapted to form a continuation of said feed table and movable out of operative position, and fluid actuated means for operating said movable guide member.

14. The combination in a winding machine for metal strips, of a rotatable reel having means for engaging the forward end of a metal strip, a feed table over which the metal strip passes to said reel, means for actuating said reel to cause the peripheral portion thereof to move upwardly adjacent the end pf said feed table, a frame pivotally sup orted atone edge adjacent the end of said eed table,

feed table beneath which said metal strip is adapted topass.

In testimony whereof, I have subscribed my name.

WILLIAM C. FORK. 

